Statutory pay

Payments may be required from an employer if an employee is not at work for a variety of reasons.

There are detailed conditions for an employee to qualify for any of these statutory payments.

Employees are only eligible for a statutory payment if they have sufficient average weekly earnings of at least the lower earnings limit.

2019/20:

Type

Max payment period

Amount (£)

Statutory Sick Pay

94.25

Statutory Maternity Pay

First six weeks

90% of weekly earnings

Next 33 weeks

148.68

Statutory Paternity Pay

2 weeks

148.68

Statutory Adoption Pay

First six weeks

90% of weekly earnings

Next 33 weeks

148.68

Shared Parental Pay

148.68

Average weekly earnings £118 or over.

With the exception of Statutory Sick Pay, statutory payments may be payable at 90% average weekly earnings throughout the payment period in certain circumstances. This applies where 90% weekly earnings are less than the standard rate of £148.68.

2018/19:

Type

Max payment period

Amount (£)

Statutory Sick Pay

92.05

Statutory Maternity Pay

First six weeks

90% of weekly earnings

Next 33 weeks

145.18

Statutory Paternity Pay

2 weeks

145.18

Statutory Adoption Pay

First six weeks

90% of weekly earnings

Next 33 weeks

145.18

Shared Parental Pay

145.18

Average weekly earnings £116 or over.

With the exception of Statutory Sick Pay, statutory payments may be payable at 90% average weekly earnings throughout the payment period in certain circumstances. This applies where 90% weekly earnings are less than the standard rate of £145.18.

Statutory Sick Pay

Payments may be required from an employer if an employee is too ill to work.

SSP is generally payable for a period up to 28 weeks.

Statutory Maternity Pay

Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off to have a baby.

SMP is payable for a period up to 39 weeks.

Statutory Paternity Pay

Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off during their partner's Statutory Maternity Pay period.

Payment is for a period of either one or two complete weeks.

Shared Parental Pay

Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off following the curtailment of the period of SMP by the mother.

Payment is for up to a maximum of 37 weeks and is dependent on the mother's unused SMP period.

Statutory Adoption Pay

Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off when they adopt a child.